Gillingham were denied a much-needed win on Saturday after conceding in stoppage-time.
Swindon played over 80 minutes with 10 men after an early red card for defender Grant Hall and the Gills took advantage with an opening goal scored by Tim Dieng. Gillingham were denied the victory as Harry Smith headed home in the third minute of injury-time.
Gillingham were in desperate need of a win to end October on a high after losing all five of their previous games during the month. They looked on course before Smith rose to head home on 93 minutes.
There was a change of formation for the Gills, manager Mark Bonner switching to a 3-5-2 from the start for the first time.
Euan Williams was making his first start in the Football League while Jacob Wakeling was chosen to partner Oli Hawkins upfront for the Gills.
Swindon had newly appointed manager Ian Holloway watching from the stands after sacking their head coach Mark Kennedy a day before the fixture. A trio of coaches took charge of them for the match, with the new man due to start officially on the Monday.
The home coaching staff were up and down the stairs to the main stand consulting the new boss – who couldn’t sit on the bench after not being named on the teamsheet – during a frantic opening period that saw Swindon reduced to 10 men and the Gills taking the lead.
A reckless challenge from central defender Hall in the middle of the pitch on Dieng deservedly led to his ninth-minute dismissal, although referee Anthony Backhouse still needed to consult his assistants before making a decision, after initially showing a yellow card.
Oli Hawkins hit the crossbar with a header soon after the red card and when former Swindon striker Jacob Wakeling was unable to connect with the loose ball, it opened up again for Hawkins and he blasted the ball wide.
It wasn’t long before the Gills did have the lead. Wakeling ran onto a long ball forward, eased past his marker and pulled the ball back for Dieng to slot home from six yards with 16 minutes played, a perfect response to the earlier crude tackle.
Jayden Clarke – playing left wing-back – might have got on the end of Hutton’s cross after half an hour but was shoved in the back as he went to connect with his head. Referee Backhouse opted not to make a decision as play continued.
Swindon didn’t offer a lot going forward in the half but their big striker Harry Smith was always a threat and he almost squeezed a header in at Jake Turner’s near post from George Cox’s ball in.
Home keeper Jack Bycroft pulled off a great save at the other end to deny Dieng a second after he guided Clarke’s cross goalwards from close range.
Swindon’s new boss Holloway spent the end of the half wandering along the touchline trying to get messages onto his newly adopted team.
Former Gills defender Will Wright made a great challenge shortly after the restart to deny Wakeling.
Big chance were in short supply for the Gills. Euan Williams dragged a shot wide with an hour, his last contribution before Bonner made changes.
Gillingham were denied a win when Tunmise Sobowale crossed for Smith at the back post, one of two players who were free to meet the ball in, and he headed home to level.
League 2 table
Gillingham: Turner, Ogie, Masterson, Ehmer, Hutton, Clarke, Coleman, E Williams (Little 67mins), Dieng (J Williams 78mins), Wakeling (Wyllie 67mins), Hawkins (Andrews 83mins). Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Nolan, Gbode
Swindon: Bycroft, Sobowale, Wright, Hall, McGregor (Freckleton 20mins), Clarke (Minturn 56mins), Kilkenny, Butterworth (Cotterill 70mins), Cox (Longelo 56mins), Drinan (Tshimanga 70mins), Smith. Subs not used: Barden, Ofoborh.
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Attendance: 7,325 (1,105 away)
